Process for the production of beryllium alloys



Patented Jan. 27, i931 emm s'rA'TE-s PATENT oF'Flc;

'LEwrs JAMES KEELER, or CLEVELAND, 01110, ASSIGNOR 'ro' BERYLLIUM conronA'rron 1 or AMERICA, or NEW YORK, N. 1,4 CORPORATION or new YORK I l rrrocnss Fort THE rnomrcrr'ou or BERYLLIUM ALLoYs Io Drawing.

This invention relates to a method of mak ing alloys of beryllium. Hitherto, most a1- loys of beryllium with other metals have been made either by simultaneous reduction of the mixed oxides by means of carbon, or by the electrodeposition of beryllium into molten metal cathodes. The former of these methodsis open to the objection notonly that relatively small yields are obtained, but also that large amounts of the objectionable beryllium carbide are formed. The second method has been found to be generally inadequate because of the sli ht tendency of beryllium to alloy with metals generally even when liberated at their surfaces; and alloys made in this manner generally show far lower beryllium' content than would be expectedfrom the amounts of beryllium theoretically electrodeposited into the second metal. 0 I have found that by simultaneous precipitation of the beryllium andthe metal to be alloyed therewith during the electrolysis of be added. The beryllium content can easily be regulated by changing the ratio of added metal in the form of its oxide or salt to beryllium in the form of its oxide or salt. Where, as in the case of metals low in the electromotive series, such as copper and silver, taneous deposition is difiicultbecaus'eof the far greater tendency of the other metal to precipitate first either by thermal or electrolytic deposition, I" have found it possible to make alloys directly by alternate additions, during the electrolysis, of the second metal in the form of a salt or oxide, and .also beryllium in the form of an electrolyzable salt preferably a halide -or oxide. simultaneous deposition or alternate'deposi; tion, the second metal, in the'form of particles just liberated, performs the function of In either Application filed November 14, 1925. Serial Ila 69,153.

the surface and be reoxidized. As one example of operation the followmg lnstance may be cited, the details not .being intended as at all restrictive but 'ules or lamellae as might otherwise rise to Y pouring ofi' .thesupernatant salts and pouring theinetal into a mold.

Itwill be understood that the addition of beryllium oxide is not essential even in the above cited example, since the double fiuoride can itself .be utilized as the sourceof be ryllium. Similarly, any salt of copper de-. composing either electrolytically or thermally to metallic copper under such .conditions could have been used instead of the salt specified.

The method above described is generally applicable to the alloying of beryllium with one or more other metals.

I claim:

. The method of producing alloys of beryllium which comprises subjecting a fused bath containing beryllium compound to electrolysis under conditions capable of precipitating'metallic beryllium and alternately supplying to the bath a beryllium compound and a compound of an alloyingmetal, capable of liberating metallic beryllium and said alloying metal, respectively, under the conditions or' the bath. I i

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

LEW-1S JAMES KEELER.

carrying down with it such beryllium glob- 

